Oh, Favor
Favor is an interesting concept. We know that God does not have favorites (Romans 2:11, Acts 10:34) but He does show us favor by establishing us as set apart. When we surrender to His will and plan, we provide ourselves the opportunity to stand witness to how He moves things around and transforms hearts so that whatever He has declared can unfold around us and through us. God’s favor will sometimes extend to favor with others. Once His favor for us has been established within a circumstance or situation, nothing or no one can stop it.
Recently, I have been receiving random compliments from others. I have been humbled by individuals identifying traits in me that I have a challenging time acknowledging within myself, but I know whose glory they are really seeing. This favor from man, is really in response to God’s work in and through me. They are marveling at his glory and work in me, so it is my responsibility to give glory where it is due, Jesus the Messiah whose own work on the cross paved the way for His work in my heart.
I have heard that “favor is not fair” and is some ways it isn’t, God may harden certain hearts so that His glory may be displayed through others (Exodus 14:4) but all of us who are called according to His purpose will experience some degree of His favor as His plan for us comes to pass. I know that favor is not always comfortable and through our being set apart and I our training to be righteous and holy, favor may require some discomfort. Many may view favor as “when things go our way” or when we are elevated in life against all odds, and these are certainly examples. But I say favor also includes whenever God preserves us or set us apart for His glory to be displayed, which may also include our hard trials, difficult seasons and long-suffering (Romans 2:4). What matters during these moments of favor are: who we are giving glory to and not forgetting from who this glory comes from and is being made possible.
His protection is favor. His grace is favor. His mercy is favor. His forgiveness is favor.
Jesus taking on the wrath of sin that we deserve is favor.
And we have the gift to come into alignment with Him in them all. I pray that we all readjust our perspective on what His favor looks like, removing the limitation of it being about us and remembering that is still about God and giving Him glory. I pray that we do not forget the one who has chosen us from long ago to be His people and trust in His goodness in however He elects to reveal and extend His favor. Last but certainly not least, may we not value our favor of men over the favor we receive from God. Surely the compliments are nice, recognition is desirable and promotions appreciated, but those are extensions and not to be praised more than our favor from God. Better we suffer by letting down others, than forfeit the glory that comes from upholding the favor and honor of God.
